Job Description:
Love people. Develop leaders. Turn vision into action.
Some of the most meaningful work in ministry happens when you help other people discover what God can do through their lives.
At Encounter Church, we see that every week: families finding a spiritual home, people exploring faith for the first time, volunteers discovering their gifts, and longtime believers learning to follow Jesus in everyday life.
We are looking for a seasoned Executive Pastor who loves that work and knows, from experience, how to help a church move forward together.
A church worth getting to know
Encounter is a church where people can bring their questions, build real relationships, and discover how biblical truth speaks to real life. We care about the person who hasn't been to church in years, the family looking for a place to belong, and the believer ready to take another step.
We are a congregation of 200 people in the suburbs southwest of Boston, served by a staff of three and a 65+ child preschool that opens our doors to the community five days a week, led by the school's CEO with 20+ staff. On Sundays, our children's environments help kids learn and connect with God. Our student ministry builds friendships and faith. Adults grow through Life Groups and volunteer teams.
New England is one of the least-churched regions in the country. That is not a complaint. It is the opportunity. The people in our neighborhoods are thoughtful, skeptical, and open, and we have watched many of them encounter Jesus here.
Our mission is to be a catalyst for encounters with Christ that lead to life change. Our vision is to scale both organizations, the church and the school, so that each strengthens the other and more families in our region encounter Jesus. We believe the next chapter of that mission is bigger than the last one, and we are looking for the leader who will help write it.
What you'll lead
Develop volunteers. Coach ministry leaders, recognize potential, set clear expectations, and provide thoughtful accountability.
Translate vision into action. Work with the lead pastor to set priorities, build practical plans, and follow through.
Coordinate ministries. Help teams communicate, share resources, and pull in the same direction.
Strengthen connection and discipleship. Help people move from a first visit into relationships, growth, serving, and leadership.
Cultivate a healthy culture. Model holiness, humility, solid work ethnic, hungry to grow, high emotional intelligence, and care for people.
Who will thrive here
You love Jesus, love the local church, and find deep satisfaction in developing others.
You embody the qualifications for a pastor found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9, and you bring spiritual maturity, integrity, and agreement with Encounter's beliefs. You have led in a church before, ideally 7+ years in a senior staff or executive role, and you have the scars and wisdom that come from seeing a church through more than one season.
You can organize complicated work while staying attentive to the people involved. You listen carefully, communicate clearly, and follow through. You are secure enough to lead with conviction and humble enough to welcome feedback.
You are not looking for a stepping stone. You are looking for a church to know, people to invest in, and ministries worth strengthening for the long haul.
What we offer
A church that is loved by its people. A lead pastor who wants a true partner, not an assistant. A community full of people who need what the gospel offers. This is a full-time role, with pay commensurate with experience and the cost of living in the Boston area, and funds are available to help you relocate.
We will not oversell this. We will tell you exactly where the church is strong, where it needs work, and what we hope the next five years hold. And we will ask the same honesty of you.
Let's begin a conversation
There is meaningful work to do here, and a church family worth knowing.
If this connects with your experience and your sense of calling, we would love to hear your story. Explore Encounter Church, including our beliefs and recent messages. To apply, send your résumé and a brief introduction explaining what draws you to this opportunity to jobs@encounterchurch.com.